preying on areas of vulnerability, including those needing help with loans or finding employment;

asking for fees in advance of promised services;

threatening legal action to collect on alleged contracts;

falsely claiming affiliation with reliable sources, such as legitimate news sites to support their products or services; and

exchanging victim lists with other fraudsters.

Recognize Scams and Protect Yourself

Watch out for fraudsters who attempt to reach out to you and then end up taking your money! By increasing your awareness of the vast array of scams, you can learn how to recognize their different forms. Below are examples of common scams: